James ruled ineligible

[Tammo29@xxxxxxx]

James ruled ineligible, plans to appeal decision
ESPN.com news services

    
CLEVELAND -- High school basketball star LeBron James was ruled ineligible to 
play for the rest of the season because he accepted free clothes.



The decision Friday by the Ohio High School Athletic Association comes four 
days after James, a senior at St. Vincent-St. Mary, was cleared for accepting 
a $50,000 sport utility vehicle as a gift from his mother.

A source close to James told ESPN.com that James would appeal the decision, 
though it is not clear yet upon what basis the appeal will be made.
    
Last Saturday, James was given two retro sports jerseys from a clothing 
store. The jerseys, honoring former Chicago Bears running back Gale Sayers 
and former Washington Bullets center Wes Unseld, cost a combined $845.

James' school must forfeit Sunday's game, the association said in a news 
release.

The 6-foot-8 James is considered the best high school player in the country 
and is expected to be the top player selected in June's NBA draft.

Ohio High School Athletic Association bylaws state that an athlete forfeits 
his or her amateur status by "capitalizing on athletic fame by receiving 
money or gifts of monetary value."

More specifically, the OHSAA 2002-03 Athletic Eligibility Information 
Bulletin states in part that, "You may receive an award or merchandise as a 
result of your participation in school or non-school competition from any 
source, provided the value does not exceed $100 per award."

As for what lies ahead beyond high school, nothing really has changed for 
James. Under NBA rules, he cannot become a free agent and start his pro 
career early. In order to become a free agent, an athlete must have been 
eligible for one NBA draft. James has not been eligible for an NBA draft and 
does not become eligible for the upcoming June 25 draft until his high school 
senior class graduates in early June.

While James was not planning on playing college basketball, an NCAA official 
said Friday that James was not eligible even before the jersey infraction.

Citing extra benefits the NCAA says James received regarding lodging and 
transportation at Nike's summer camp as well as other infractions, an NCAA 
official said, "LeBron James would not have been certified at any institution 
in the NCAA. He would have been initially ineligible." 

James refused to comment about the jerseys Thursday night at the Greater 
Cleveland Sports Awards; he was honored as the area's top high school athlete 
for the second straight year. He did allude to "all the controversy that's 
going on with me'' during his acceptance speech.



"I'd like to thank my teammates for helping me through all this,'' he said. 
"It will be in the paper, but remember, I'm on the honor roll with a 3.5 
grade-point average.''



Earlier this month, James drew attention in Akron by driving around a new 
custom-made Hummer H2, which he received as a present for his 18th birthday. 
His mother, Gloria James, provided loan information to prove she had 
purchased the vehicle.



On Monday, OHSAA commissioner Clair Muscaro ruled that James would not lose 
his eligibility for accepting the vehicle.



Muscaro said he asked school administrators at St. Vincent-St. Mary on Friday 
for a chance to speak with James.



"But LeBron did not want to speak with me,'' Muscaro said, adding that James 
is the first athlete he has declared ineligible in his 14 years as 
commissioner.



"I think this sends a message that we are all about fairness,'' Muscaro said. 
"LeBron is being treated like any one of the thousands of student-athletes in 
Ohio.''



Muscaro said his ruling addressed only the issue of James receiving the two 
jerseys.



"Naturally, LeBron is talented and he's noted nationally and internationally, 
but as far as this association is concerned, we will treat him the same as 
all our other athletes.''

The Sayers jersey costs $395; the Unseld jersey, $450.

Store manager Derrick Craig said the store's owner gave the jerseys to James 
for free.

"We get celebrities in here all the time," said Craig, who would not identify 
the owner. "They spend a lot of money and sometimes you just got to give them 
some love."

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.